In the comics, Ronnie and Nobel Prize-winning physicist Martin Stein were fused into Firestorm by a nuclear accident.

The version of Ronnie Raymond in The Flash will be a maintenance worker at STAR Labs and the fiancé of Caitlin Snow (Danielle Panabaker).

Raymond will also play a pivotal role in the chemical explosion that turns rookie detective Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) into The Flash.

Producer Greg Berlanti added: "[DC Comics Chief Creative Officer] Geoff Johns, Andrew Kreisberg and myself designed the pilot and series to include Ronnie (aka Firestorm) - and to actually have someone with Robbie's talent playing the role is beyond exciting.

"We can't wait for viewers and fans of the character to check it out."